It's been nearly 50 years since Mick and Pat Noll set out to change the world

The two, who both joined the Peace Corps just three years after it was established in 1961, met while volunteering in Honduras, where flooding had left villagers without homes. Mick was with a group from Thomas More College and was assigned the task of helping to build homes for flood victims and teach farm management to the locals. Pat, who was fresh out of nursing school, was using her newfound medical knowledge to help villagers. "We were young and thought we could solve all of the world's problems," jokes Pat, 68, of Covington. "I just ran into him one day. He was busy building a house, but stopped to talk to me. "He would speak nothing but Spanish, and I couldn't understand half of what he said." Despite Mick's more advanced Spanish-speaking skills, the young nurse liked what she heard. Both were "young and energetic," according to Mick, and excited about the newly formed Peace Corps. "We thought it was a great program that would allow us to learn about ourselves and the world, and help others along the way," said Mick, 69, who grew up in Villa Hills.

COVINGTON - It's been nearly 50 years since Mick and Pat Noll set out to change the world.

The two, who both joined the Peace Corps just three years after it was established in 1961, met while volunteering in Honduras, where flooding had left villagers without homes.

Mick was with a group from Thomas More College and was assigned the task of helping to build homes for flood victims and teach farm management to the locals. Pat, who was fresh out of nursing school, was using her newfound medical knowledge to help villagers.

"We were young and thought we could solve all of the world's problems," jokes Pat, 68, of Covington. "I just ran into him one day. He was busy building a house, but stopped to talk to me.

"He would speak nothing but Spanish, and I couldn't understand half of what he said."

Despite Mick's more advanced Spanish-speaking skills, the young nurse liked what she heard. Both were "young and energetic," according to Mick, and excited about the newly formed Peace Corps.

"We thought it was a great program that would allow us to learn about ourselves and the world, and help others along the way," said Mick, 69, who grew up in Villa Hills.

That first meeting was in 1964 - and the couple has been together ever since.

Mick and Pat married in 1967, but still traveled the world together as returning volunteers in the Peace Corps. Their volunteer work took them to various countries in addition to Honduras over the years, including Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Columbia. During the many years they were involved with the Peace Corps, they helped to build schools and homes, and helped give the communities they visited access to medical care and vaccinations.

"It was a humbling experience for us, and we've stayed involved for 47 years," said Pat.

The couple ultimately settled here in Northern Kentucky and raised three boys in Covington. Mick and Pat also got involved in community service locally and volunteered for Habitat for Humanity. Pat was the health coordinator for Northern Kentucky Head Start for 25 years; and the couple owned restaurants in Covington, including Mick Noll's Covington Haus.

The restaurant closed in 1985, but the Nolls still serve German fare through their catering business. Their food has been a staple at local Oktoberfest celebrations since they began.

As Mick serves up bratwurst, mettwurst and his famous goetta balls at Newport's Oktoberfest, which began Friday at Newport on the Levee, Pat will be in Washington, D.C. The longtime Peace Corps volunteer will be taking part in various celebrations and community service work there to commemorate the organization's 50th anniversary.

"There will be thousands of us there to celebrate all the work that's been done over the last 50 years," she said. "It's been exciting to be part of it."

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Story Source: Cincinnati.com

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Honduras; Marriage; 1960s; 50th

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